10 of my dogs have been trained at the OTSFD from my first Rottweiler puppy in 2000, 4 Belgian…read moreMalinois to my scared meat farm rescue, Katie who was raised for 6 months in a small cage with 2 other dogs in deplorable conditions to our shy, rescue Frankie a sharpei/lab mix and my tiny Pomeranian. From puppy school through basic obedience to advanced training for the big dogs, the training has been amazing and top notch. They also listen to my goals and hopes for my dogs and create a plan to get there. Even after school is over, they are a continuous support as the dogs exhibit new behaviors or issues. I would NEVER trust or take my dogs anywhere else. As for grooming, I've never been a little dog person until we adopted a 6 month old Pomeranian. She captured my heart and soul and as such, needed regular grooming, which was new to us since we always had wash and wear dogs :) OTSFD always did a beautiful job with and were so kind and thorough. She was always ready on time and was perfectly groomed. We had a few sever mishaps with her grooming when we were out of town on extended stays and went to a new place, which OTSFD always fixed. I always stop by for toys, treats and food when I'm in the neighborhood. They are my go-to shop for gifts for friend and clients with cats and dogs as their selection and service is great. I highly recommend them to anyone in the area to stop by and experience the wonderfulness that is The Olde Towne School For Dogs!

I can't say enough positive things about this business. Patrice one of the trainers is the…read moreabsolute best trainer in the world. Our extremely stubborn French Bulldog stops all foolishness when Patrice is in sight. Their training program is outstanding but their retail service is just as outstanding! My dog did not received a salmon bone that was recommended. I returned the rest of the without issue. The location, the service, the items available make this business my go-to. #HappyShopping

I am very late in writing this review, but I wanted to share how meaningful my experience was. I…read moreenrolled my puppy, a red standard poodle, in her classes, and very quickly realized she was exactly the kind of trainer I had been searching for. She is clearly knowledgeable and skilled, but what truly sets her apart is her holistic approach and genuine care for animals. She treats every dog as an individual and tailors her training to meet each one's specific needs. That same thoughtful approach extends to her human clients. During this time, I was dealing with significant health challenges and was not able to attend every class. She kindly offered makeup sessions, which I deeply appreciated. When she learned that my absences were due to my health, she checked in on me personally and even asked if it was okay to call me at home to see how I was doing. Her compassion meant more to me than I can easily express. She showed more care and concern than many people I have known for decades. Anyone looking for a dog trainer should go to her, not only for her expertise, but because she is genuinely kind, attentive, and deeply invested in both her clients and their dogs.

I took Hazelnut here when she was a pup. She's now an AKC Grand Champion and I am back with he…read moredaughter. Bringing her pup feels like full circle, which says everything about my experience. April is knowledgeable, patient, and incredibly effective at tailoring guidance to each dog's temperament and each handler's skill level. I especially appreciate how she focuses not just on obedience, but on building confidence, socialization, and a strong relationship. Seeing the progress from one generation to the next has been really special, and I wouldn't trust anyone else with those critical early training foundations.

Thomas has helped us a lot with learning to work with our Akita "Carter". Not alway the friendlyest…read moredog in the world but Thomas has been able to help socalize him, and is one of the few stranger that Carter lets into the house with out a problem. We interviewed a few dog sitters that just weren't interested in working with a dog with "issues", but Thomas took on the challenge and we are the lucky winners of his doing this. I can't thank him enough for now letting us have vacations again and not having to worry about Carter at the Kennel (he never was happy there) or at home alone with just some one letting him out. He had 6 mile walks, lots of TLC and supervised play dates. Giving us peace of mind to enjoy our vacation. Thomas had the insight to work up to gaining Carters trust and knew just how to work with a large scared dog. I would recommend him highly.

I have used For the Love of Dog for over a year walking my Vizlsa and my two Greyhounds. I would…read more and have recommended them to friends. I trust their walkers completely and have never had a problem with them. The prices are competitive, but the communication between Thomas and the clients as well as the work ethic of the company is what puts them above the rest of the walkers in the area.

I have used Alexandria Pet Care a few times now, since the people who used to watch my cats moved…read moreout of the area. The team that handles my visits have been wonderful. It is apparent they love pets and ensuring their proper care. The reports I receive after each visit put my mind at ease, particularly since one of my kitties is wary of people she doesn't (and, at times, does) know. I also enjoy the photos. The app that APC uses is a user-friendly interface that allows you to handle virtually all business with APC, and the team sends reminders to confirm the scheduled visits a couple or more days prior. As others have commented, make no mistake about it: the services cost and sometimes, the sticker shock gets me, particularly considering the circumstances for the visit. There is a weekend charge, per day, per pet, and a holiday fee, per day, per pet whenever there is a holiday or it's APC's dedicated holiday season. While I expect to pay to have someone briefly interrupt their own holiday plans to handle the things with my kitties that I cannot, boy oh boy does it add up and quickly. A loyal customer discount or customer appreciation savings here and there would definitely be welcomed! That said, I know I can leave my pets in good, competent hands and that my home is secured, as well. They will tend to plants and pick up the mail, if you ask, and they do leave things orderly. I love the notes, the pictures, and the care they show my pets. I know they have been kind to my pets and that's the most important thing to me. I definitely recommend and will use again.

I have been using Alexandria Pet Care for years to care for my fur babies when I'm out of town…read more Their care team is very responsive, and they always provide details/pics of my pets to put my mind at ease. Their client app is user friendly and allows me to change pet care information effortlessly. I would recommend them in a heartbeat. Thank you, APC for all that you do!

Mike and his team are reliable, caring, and trustworthy! I get pictures of my two cat daughters…read moreevery day that I'm on vacation to put my mind at ease while I'm away. I truly couldn't ask for a better service to take care of my babies. I highly recommend them!

We were very uncertain about what to do with our Chihuahua when we moved to VA. Previously friends…read moreand family stepped in to watch him. He is very shy and isn't very friendly towards new people so it's nerve racking to find a place where you feel he will be cared for properly and loved in all of his grouchy Chihuahua glory! Once you get through that part he is a love bug. We went to the local PetsMart and had a bad experience just talking to the people there and knew he couldn't go there. That's when I looked on Yelp and found this place! It had great reviews and I saw that they had experience with Chihuahuas! It's nice to know my dog would be staying in a home(with lots of space and a big back yard) with experienced people who loved animals! So much better then a cage! I was very nervous when I dropped him off....ok I cried! Do you think he's spoiled???!!! Beth helped me feel so much better because she took the time to send me photos, tell me how he was doing, and talk with me while he was staying with her. After the first photo I immediately felt at ease and thankful we made the decision to leave our dog here. I really appreciate that Beth takes the time to do this and it really shows that she cares about animals and her job. I feel comforted to know that my dog has a safe place to go the next time his "parents" are away!

I can't say enough good things about Brandi and Perry Bailey of RSK9. Their work has given my pup…read moreand I so much freedom and balance. Pebbles (blue heeler, 1.5 years old) would never listen to me, would not sit or lay still, and had a lot of other obedience issues that caused her to be stressed or confused. She was a TOUGH dog to train and I was concerned I couldn't find the solution for her to get basic concepts. This view has completely changed since working with RSK9's 3 week program. I would HIGHLY recommend them and their methods - you can tell they genuinely love working with dogs and it's made a huge difference in giving my dog the chance to find real rest at home. They send DAILY updates with photos and videos which was so nice. This isn't a regular class or something you just pay for; it's truly an investment that you and your dog will be using for the time you get to share together. Side note: it's worth doing 3 weeks versus 2 weeks. At the 2 week mark is when Pebbles really started to understand her marks and cues. From here there is so much more that can be refined and Brandi/Perry really capitalize on that threshold being crossed!

Brandi & Perry were amazing! Highly recommend working with them…read more We adopted a one year old mixed breed, Tuck, a few months ago. He's very sweet but started to get rambunctious to the point that my remote work felt challenging. He also started jumping or freezing when he saw other dogs on walks, and he occasionally barked or growled and men. We weren't sure if it was the start of aggressive behavior or just the result of a shelter dog that hasn't been exposed. After doing our research, we decided to do the 3 week behavior modification board and train program. We were really impressed from beginning to end. They shared a ton of information upfront, walked us through their facility (we opted to drop him off) and sent pictures and updates every evening. It became clear right away that they both have a very deep understanding of dogs, as well as a real respect and love for them. Tuck loved them! The best part was the "transition" day when Perry brought Tuck back and spent the day teaching us everything they've worked on together. We are first time dog owners so generally going in pretty blind. Perry gave us a 101 on dogs and the importance of clear and consistent communication. He talked through all of the layers of training and how/why it is effective. We felt this part was SO helpful for us to understand how to be better owners. Then we walked Tuck around the neighborhood with Perry guiding us and then spent time addressing indoor behaviors too. He was flexible and stayed until we felt comfortable with everything. This is a long review so the TLDR: finding a trainer is a big decision and investment so we wanted to get it right. Brandi & Perry were really incredible and beyond our expectations!! Truly worth every penny! Tuck has been doing really great at home and outside since being home. I've been able to work full days with him holding "place" on his cot, which would have been unheard of before!

This was just the experience I want for my dog…read more James is awesome. He's so attentive to what you need or want from your dog. My dog, Koa is a year old Belgian Malinois but unfortunately was not trained. She was rehomed to me. I desperately needed obedience training. James shared pictures and videos with me of the whole journey since I lived 3 1/2 hours away. I had no reservations about leaving her with him. I doubt she wanted to leave him to come home! This will probably not be the only training she will get from James. He's very open to this being a great experience for you and your dog. I highly recommend him for any training you need for your dog.

Sending our rescue Rottweiler to James was the best decision we've made. He helped correct multiple…read morebehaviors including jumping, leash reactivity, biting when being fed treats, stealing food off the table, and reactivity on elevators. After 5 weeks our dog came back his same goofy self just better behaved. He also trained our other dog, a 7 year old rescue, who had sever leash reactivity to not lung or bark on walks anymore. We couldn't recommend Controlled K-9 more!

The Fairy Dogmom deserves far beyond five stars!…read more We reached out to the Fairy Dogmom about two years ago, and we feel so incredibly grateful that they have become a part of our family's life. I cannot overstate how incredible the owner, Katie, and office manager, Lynda, are. And my comments--already verging on superfluous--would sound even more so if I described how fantastic our regular walker (but really, family member), Dolores, is- she is kind, caring, and we, and our pups, love her. We have asked Fairy Dogmom to walk our pups (three, poorly trained cavaliers--which is no easy task!), feed our kitties, board our dogs, and also stay at our home to take care of the full menagerie (three dogs and two cats). Fairy Dogmom has fulfilled all of our requests and done so reliably and with the utmost care and attention. For "normal" dog walks, we receive comprehensive and fun updates, complete with a narrative and photos, and when we have had a Fairy Dogmom stay with our dogs and cats, it's like we have left them in the capable and loving hands of a best friend--who updates us constantly by email about how our crew is doing. We recently lost one of our sweet dogs to cancer, and Dolores, Katie, and Lynda could not have been kinder, or more supportive, through a very tough month. Communication, billing, and payment are all A++ as well! In case it's not clear, we could not recommend Fairy Dogmom enough.

Knowledgeable, dependable, and meticulous…read more We've known Katie and her family for 30+ years and she's the real deal. Trust your furry family with Katie!

They have a mobile groom service. Lauren (Kibby) has come twice now and groomed my Morky . My puppy…read more hated going to the groomers and would act up. He just loves Kibby and when he is done looks super cute. Having the groomer come to me is terrific. Kibby definitely loves dogs and gives my pup the special care he needs.

I used this groomer I think once when I lived in Alexandria. If I recall correctly, my two dogs…read morelooked cute in their bandannas afterward but were still somewhat damp at pickup. Wasn't great grooming, wasn't terrible. I don't remember exactly when that was but I think around 2013. I moved away from the area in 2016, so certainly no later than that. Both of those dogs have been dead for years now. But I appear to be on VIP Pet Elite's text spam list until the end of time. The last text I got from them before today, I responded politely to ask to be taken off the list. No reply either way. Today I got one that isn't even about dog grooming; it says "Hi. ViPs! Great News! VIP Pet Elite partnered with Goldmine Realty ([link redacted]). Refer, Sell, or Buy Real Estate with Goldmine Realty and get 12 months FREE GROOMING with VIP Pet Elite! Call for details at 703-586-5976" Like, who does that? this is NOT why I gave out my phone number. Don't you give them yours unless you want to get crappy real estate spam texts in 2032.

Here is an update to my original review. As I said before,…read moreI LOVE my pet care team. Off Collar has been a God send for me. Yesterday I was diagnosed with the flu. Oh misery All it took was a text message to Lauren Flannigan (owner) and favorite pet sitter, to ask if she could help me out by taking my Mila for daycare. There was no hesitation on her part. She was here early this morning to pick her up and will have her back to me in the afternoon giving me the day to rest. She will do the same tomorrow. Even though we weren't scheduled for these days, she was very willing to help me out. If you need pet care and want the best for your four legged furry friend, you would be remiss in overlooking this amazing service. I have had dogs my whole life and excellent pet sitters are hard to come by.

Lauren has been walking my dog Nova for almost nine months now. She is very flexible and reliable…read morewhen it comes to the needs of my dog, including boarding! The portal she uses is very easy to navigate and communication is spot on. I would recommend Lauren and Off Collar Pet Care to anyone!